I Love Tai Chi! I Love Tai Chi Classes at the Confucius Institute at Alfred University

Every week from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., students from the Tai Chi class at the Confucius Institute practice Tai Chi on the campus of Alfred University. Since its establishment in 2011, the class has become the common landscape on campus.

Tai Chi class students practicing under the guidance of Liu Guifang

Driven by the passion for Tai Chi, some students have been practicing it since the beginning of the class, and even the new learners have been doing it for two years. Through the classes they not only train the body and the mind, but also befriend like-minded peers.

Carline Yanda, a practitioner of 7 years, said, “Tai Chi training helps improve the balance of my body. Every time after practicing it, I feel physically and mentally comfortable and can clearly feel the changes in my body. The Tai Chi class of Confucius Institute at Alfred University is a group, in which I have made friends and find a bigger world. We practice together and increase mutual understanding. Everyone feels great.”

Carline Yanda

“Since 2011, I have been a member of the Tai Chi class. Starting from Tai Chi Chuan to Taiyi Swimming Dragon, Tai Chi has refreshed my life,” said Nancy Ruger.

Nancy Ruger

Cindy McLaughlin has been practicing Tai Chi for 6 years. She thinks it can relieve stress and eliminate negative emotions, making her feel younger and younger.

Terry Butler joined the Tai Chi class at Confucius Institute four years ago. “At first, I came here for exercising and meeting more friends. But after practicing Tai Chi every day, I found that my knee was less painful. Every time when I play it, I can clearly feel an energy force (Qi) flowing through my body,” she said.

Terry Butler

With only two years’ learning, Lana Meissner has already deeply experienced the significant changes Tai Chi has brought to her. “When practicing Tai Chi, I am full of energy and my body and spirit are in a state of balance and harmony.”

Lana Meissner

Liu Guifang, the 13th-generation disciple of Taiyi Swimming Dragon and six level martial arts master of China, is the coach of the Institute. She mainly teaches 24-form Tai Chi Chuan, Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Change Classic), Baduanjin (the Eight Pieces of Brocade), Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi) Qigong and more difficult Taiyi Swimming Dragon Quan, Kung Fu Fan and Tai Chi Sword. As of the first half of 2018, the Tai Chi class at Confucius Institute has more than 100 students. In addition, the class trained a group of US Tai Chi instructors. Until now, the Tai Chi class has already trained four “foreign instructors” who have set up Tai Chi classes in surrounding communities.

Tai Chi class student Teresa Brown set up a Tai Chi class in Wellsville

Local coverage of the Tai Chi class

Tai Chi class students attending The First International Swimming Dragon Quan Exchange Association in Beijing, China in 2016

Tai Chi class students taking Wushu Duanwei (the level of martial arts) Ranking Evaluation

Moreover, Tai Chi class students of Confucius Institute at Alfred University also participated in various activities. They performed in cultural activities at Alfred University and the surrounding areas and were reported by the local media for many times. In 2016, Tai Chi class students attended the First International Swimming Dragon Quan Exchange Association in Beijing, China and delivered a speech at the conference as the representative of the United States. In 2017, the Confucius Institute at Alfred University set up the Eastern United States evaluation center of Wushu Duanwei Ranking Evaluation (Tai Chi Quan). Twenty students from the class took the test and obtained the certificate of Wushu 1 Duan (Level 1).

(Story by Tong Menglin)